Bodybugg

[Erik]

http://bodybugg.com/

Anyone got one? Heard of them? Know anyone using one?

[Inatic]

i've heard of it. I want one :D :oops:

[Noel Clark]

i've heard of it. I want one :D :oops:
of course you do...you over-achiever

:lol:

:lub:

[kelster]

all the trainers at my gym (24hr) wear them... the 24hr chain is a big promoter of it... not sure if it works or not :unsure:

[Erik]

all the trainers at my gym (24hr) wear them... the 24hr chain is a big promoter of it... not sure if it works or not :unsure:

Do they sell them as well?

It's a good $400 a pop I believe.

[Patricia]

I hate 24hr trainers... :grumble: so annoying...
well, a few are my friends, but for the most part...:rolleyes:

Anyway, heard of it...I don't think I'd splurge on one.

[Inatic]

of course you do...you over-achiever

:lol:

:lub:

:catfight:

:love:

[kelster]

Do they sell them as well?

It's a good $400 a pop I believe.
yes, they do sell them both on their website and in their clubs... they go for $299...




I hate 24hr trainers... so annoying...

Patricia - i agree, i have a few that are friends as well, but i will say their trainers are some of the least educated trainers ive ever met... some of the stuff i see them doing is :ruloco:

[Maria]

I have one and I like it.
It was quite the eye opener.

[Erik]

I have one and I like it.
It was quite the eye opener.

How has it changed your approach to fat loss? Has using it helped in your progress?

[Maria]

I am actually in the process of bumping my cals back to maintenance level w/o gaining weight. So far, so good...

My daily burns varies from 1900cals (no workout, long day at work) to 2500cals (45 min cardio, yard and house work). The bottom line is that daily activity such as walking and cleaning duties count for a lot.

I have to reevalute a lot of things (also realized that due the measuring dilemma I was overeating oats...of all things) and will start a new cutting approach next year.

[fitmonkey]

http://bodybugg.com/

Anyone got one? Heard of them? Know anyone using one?


They are big at my gym. They are using them as part of their personal training package and you can rent one. Seems kind of neat.

[Pandora]

One of the trainers I used to work with (the only one I ever knew worth his salt... although he was kind of a sissy... but that's neither here nor there... ) used them for his clients. He had a lot of good things to say about them, but I never asked any questions about it.

[pillowtalk]

When I went to Alwyn Cosgrove's gym last Feb, they (staff) were all wearing one. I noticed they wear them on The Biggest Loser too.

I want one but they seem kinda bulky for lil old me..(4'11)...not sure how it would look with my scrubs on at work...lol!

[Audrey]

I see them advertised at my gym all the time (24 hour fitness). They are a big promoter for it (but then again, everything they can make big bucks on, they tend to promote). I personally would never buy one and think it is a bit overpriced for what it is.

I am also not sure how accurate it is. I think the biggest value of such a product is probably not so much in the information that it gives you (i.e. how many calories you burn vs. how much you eat) than it is in encouraging you to move more and be more conscious about what you put in your mouth (or at least how much you put in your mouth). At the end of the day, if you move more and eat less, you will lose weight. Whether you need such a product to do so… probably not, but for some people it may be a good incentive to get moving.

[krispy1138]

I've had one for a week now. So far, I'm just using it to maintain but actually lost 1.2 lbs because I was eating slightly under and going slightly over in my activities. I've found it to be a big benefit for me because as Audrey said, it does get you to move more; also, it turns out I burn quite a few more calories on a daily basis than I had realized so (hopefully) I can get away with eating quite a bit more than I was and still lose weight.

I have a log here if anyone is interested:

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28171

[synergyb3]

Sounds good (and out of my price range) but you have to wear it 24/7?

[krispy1138]

Sounds good (and out of my price range) but you have to wear it 24/7?

Only for the first day (except for showering). After that, it remembers how many calories you burn per minute when not active, so you don't have to wear it to bed, etc.

I got it for $120 less through 24 Hour Fitness the weekend after Thanksgiving. Maybe they'll run a similar special for Christmas.

[laurawd]

Hi, I have one. Like Maria, I am bumping UP kcals to "maintenance". The bugg tells me I'm burning b/t 2K and 2800kcal a day (I'm 38 yr old female, 150lbs, 66", fairly active but not ridiculously so.). I had been eating only around 1500 kcal a day for years, literally. So I'm moving up and seeing how things progress. Currently averaging 2000 kcal a day, maintaining weight (with a bit of water gain, methinks)

I like using it 'cause it reminds me to eat.

[shortie]

Seems like an interesting new toy, you girls that have one think it is very accurate? I see from the video it measures your calories but does it measure your amounts P/F/C ?

[laurawd]

Seems like an interesting new toy, you girls that have one think it is very accurate? I see from the video it measures your calories but does it measure your amounts P/F/C ?

Hi Shortie, No. The bugg doesn't measure what you eat, or the type of kcal you burn (i.e., whether you burn fat or carbs). It has a 4-point system by which to measure your metabolism, including skin conductivity, body temp, etc.

I do not know if it's accurate, 'cause I have been undereating for so long I am still not eating as much as it says I burn. I have read that it is about 90+% accurate.

[krispy1138]

Seems like an interesting new toy, you girls that have one think it is very accurate? I see from the video it measures your calories but does it measure your amounts P/F/C ?

So far it seems accurate for me. My goal was to maintain but I've been eating at a slight deficit and lost a little over 1 lb the first week. My next "official" weigh in is tomorrow but when I weighed myself Saturday a.m. I was down another 2 lbs. Of course, I'm not running enough of a deficit for it to be ALL fat but I'm certainly not gaining while eating about 700 calories more a day than I was.

You have to input everything you eat, similar to with Fit Day, but it will show a breakdown of grams of P/F/C, as well as percentages for the day. I actually like their software better than Fit Day's because it has a lot of national brands in the database. Of course, you can also add your own foods and recipes.

Also (and I question how accurate this can be), in your subsequent weight-ins, it will show you the average calories consumed based on what you logged that week, as well as the average calories consumed based on your weight change. For my last weigh-in, they told me I had actually OVERREPORTED by about 200 calories based on my weight loss.

[Espi]

I've been wondering how BodyBugg compares to other methods available, like a Polar watch or a more upscale pedometer (counting the amt of steps you make).
I've been trying to estimate maintenance in advance by a number of different factors and sofar have managed to be fairly accurate.
What I did learn from the BodyBugg threads I've been reading, is that mundane everyday activity is actually paying off more than I'd realized. This makes it easier to make yourself devote a smidgeon more time to household chores than before. Or to take a walk more often. I'm pretty sure that one of the things I changed last year, viz. walk instead of ride my bicycle and do more errands made a substantial difference.

The most recent realization was how much more important body temperature is. Ever since April I've been tracking body temperature. Recently it was slightly higher than normal for a few weeks, when I was having shingles. Didn't work out for 3 weeks, and ... maintenance turned out to be up to 200kcal higher than when I work out! WTF!
The reverse happened when I tried Intermittent Fasting with 2 meals/day (am/pm). While body temp didn't drop too much in the morning I'm betting my money on it that day time temperature dropped, hence the lower than expected maintenance. This might be a reason for some to increase meal frequency. Most won't notice such a difference though..

In case anyone keeps track of cycle length: mine shorten considerably when I'm dieting. Especially the 2nd phase (that has you at higher body temp, with up to 0.9°C difference between highest & lowest temp) shortens. Lo & behold, it lengthened again last month when I bumped up calories to maintenance. It seems to react especially to high calorie intakes in the last week before TOM. Coincidentially these are always the days one ends up to be ravenous anyway.

ETA : reason for mentioning is that if you can find a method that makes the 2nd phase last longer (cycles tend to lengthen for younger women , viz their first phase) or the 1st phase shorter then you'd have a higher average body temperature. Seems worthwhile to look into and is my major reason behind large refeeds at the end of a cycle.

[synergyb3]

Only for the first day (except for showering). After that, it remembers how many calories you burn per minute when not active, so you don't have to wear it to bed, etc.

I got it for $120 less through 24 Hour Fitness the weekend after Thanksgiving. Maybe they'll run a similar special for Christmas.That's good. You still need to wear it for it to work during the day though? If you really want to know you need to wear it when you're at work, doing housework, etc?

I do like the idea of this and read your journal about it. It sounds like it can be a pretty useful tool. And I love the numbers; I can see me becoming totally obsessed with this. :lol: I just don't like the idea of wearing a bulky armband around.

How does it figure one's calories burned? Does it just go by formulas or can it figure in other ways like if someone has a health problem which lowers/increases metabolism will the lower calories show up or will it figure calories the same regardless?

[krispy1138]

That's good. You still need to wear it for it to work during the day though? If you really want to know you need to wear it when you're at work, doing housework, etc?

I do like the idea of this and read your journal about it. It sounds like it can be a pretty useful tool. And I love the numbers; I can see me becoming totally obsessed with this. :lol: I just don't like the idea of wearing a bulky armband around.

How does it figure one's calories burned? Does it just go by formulas or can it figure in other ways like if someone has a health problem which lowers/increases metabolism will the lower calories show up or will it figure calories the same regardless?

You need to wear it when you are active, so you would probably want to wear it at work, unless you know your activity level is always the same, in which case you could wear it for only a few days so it can establish a baseline.

As to how it works, this is from the Bodybugg site:

"It utilizes a patented process for interpreting calorie burn called "sensor fusion" developed by BodyMedia, Inc. This process involves collecting a range of body-data using multiple physiological sensors instead of a single sensor, which is what other calorie estimation devices such as pedometers and heart rate monitors rely on. It's this multi-sensor approach that enables bodybugg™ to "see" the wearer's context (whether they are sitting, sleeping, jogging, walking, etc.) that makes bodybugg™ such a reliably accurate device for calorie expenditure estimation.

The Physiological Sensors
Here is a list of the sensors in the bodybugg™ followed by a short description of how they contribute to energy expenditure estimation.

Accelerometer - The accelerometer in bodybugg™ is a two-axis micro-electro-mechanical sensor (MEMS) device that measures motion. This motion can be mapped to forces (g-force) exerted on the body. By taking gravity and motion into account along with the other sensor data, the wearer's body context and true level of physical exertion can be accurately predicted.
Heat Flux - The bodybugg™ also contains a proprietary heat flux sensor located on the side that measures the amount of heat being dissipated by the body via a thermally resistant material. In short, this sensor measure how much heat the wearer's body is giving off. Heat flux is an important parameter because the body tends to heat up the faster it burns calories.
Galvanic Skin Response - Better known as GSR, this sensor is comprised of two "hypo-allergenic" stainless steel electrodes on the back of the armband that measure skin conductivity. Skin conductivity is how much an electrical current can pass between two points on the surface of the skin and is affected by sweat due to physical exertion as well as emotional stimuli such as psychological stress.
Skin Temperature - Skin temperature is measured by using a highly accurate thermistor-based sensor located on the back of the bodybugg™. Looking at continuous measurement of skin temperature in conjunction with data collected from the other sensors can reveal the body's core temperature trends which are affected by the level of a person's physical exertion or lack thereof.
The data these 4 sensors collect, in conjunction with the wearer's specific body parameters (age, gender, height, weight) enable the most accurate estimation of energy expenditure on the market today outside of a clinical setting."

As you can see, it does not use formulas, so it should measure YOUR actual burn. From the numbers I have seen other people post, there is a wide range; anywhere from 1700 to 2900+. I've recorded a range between 1900 and 2500, depending on how active I am that day.

I recently did a three week average and found that the calories I consumed per fthe ood log and those based on my measurement changes were a lot closer over the three week period than they were week to week. My average deficit over that time was 254 calories, which would be about 1.5 lbs lost, and according to the scale, I've lost 1.6, so the program does seem to be pretty accurate.

[sarahlou]

OK :) so you got me curious now. If you used the standard formulae and calculated your average calories burned then how does that number compare to what you get from BodyBugg? Was the difference significant enough that you feel it justifies the expense of the purchase? It sounds like you recommend this? Is it worth it for a newbie?

[krispy1138]

OK :) so you got me curious now. If you used the standard formulae and calculated your average calories burned then how does that number compare to what you get from BodyBugg? Was the difference significant enough that you feel it justifies the expense of the purchase? It sounds like you recommend this? Is it worth it for a newbie?


Using Harris-Benedict, I burn about 2223/day (moderately active, moderate exercise 3-5 days/week)

15 x BW is 2250/day.

3 week average from Body Bugg is 2407

Is the difference significance enough? Not really; but before I got the Bugg, I was having a lot of trouble losing weight and wasn't sure if my metabolism was really slow or not. I now know my metabolism is not slow but I burn significantly less calories on the weekend, even with exercise, than I do at my sedentary desk job, so I really need to push myself more on the weekends and watch my food intake. I also have visual proof that I can eat much more than I had previously thought and not gain weight. I know what cardio exercises burn the most calories. And probably the biggest thing I learned is that non-exercise activity is MUCH more important for calorie burne at the end of the day than what you do in the gym! With the information I've gotten from the Bugg, I feel like I have more control over my body and my eating habits which, combined with the extra food, has made me a much happier person!

I think the Bugg is useful for anyone wanting to lose weight, but of course it's not necessary. It can provide constant feedback that you are on the right track, especially when you weigh in each week, which some people (myself included) really need. If you don't hit your weekly goal, the program will offer you suggestions on what went wrong and what changes to make.

I've been pretty happy with it so far but it's only been three weeks. The only complaint I have about it is that it is not very unobtrusive so there have been certain things I couldn't wear with it unless I didn't mind it showing. In fact, I had to take it off at dinner on Christmas because it was warm in the restaurant and I was wearing short sleeves under my sweater.

[sarahlou]

Thanks!

[longing2blean]

Thunder - as you know....I got me one of these. I wear it all the time. I got it during the 24 hour Thanksgiving special....it was 225 out the door and then you have a subscription fee.

I eat what Erik tells me to and I burn (according to the Bugg) between 2200 and 2800 calories a day depending on my activity.....yesterday I cleaned the house all day....did not sit down and burned 2800....Christmas Eve 3400.....that being said, I create large caloric deficits daily (I think my plan is about 1800-1900 cals) and still do not drop body weight. When I did my last body fat test it indicated I had lost 2 0r 3% body fat.....I think when I did the calcs (if I did them right) it equated to net body fat loss of 2 or 3 pounds......

I still love the thing. I know I just move more. It also reminds me that certain activities just burn more calories. Sometimes (I know I am a geek) when I do my HIIT I see how high I can get the calorie burn per minute to go. I think I hit my high alternating TaeKwondo forms and jumping rope.....

For me watching tv, computer time, sleeping is all about 1.2 calories per minute. Walking hills around my house can ramp it up to 5 or 6 cals per minute. The highest I got it to was 9 cals per minute and it was not for an extended period....that's really heavy breathing!

[synergyb3]

Thunder - as you know....I got me one of these. I wear it all the time. I got it during the 24 hour Thanksgiving special....it was 225 out the door and then you have a subscription fee.

I eat what Erik tells me to and I burn (according to the Bugg) between 2200 and 2800 calories a day depending on my activity.....yesterday I cleaned the house all day....did not sit down and burned 2800....Christmas Eve 3400.....that being said, I create large caloric deficits daily (I think my plan is about 1800-1900 cals) and still do not drop body weight. When I did my last body fat test it indicated I had lost 2 0r 3% body fat.....I think when I did the calcs (if I did them right) it equated to net body fat loss of 2 or 3 pounds......

I still love the thing. I know I just move more. It also reminds me that certain activities just burn more calories. Sometimes (I know I am a geek) when I do my HIIT I see how high I can get the calorie burn per minute to go. I think I hit my high alternating TaeKwondo forms and jumping rope.....

For me watching tv, computer time, sleeping is all about 1.2 calories per minute. Walking hills around my house can ramp it up to 5 or 6 cals per minute. The highest I got it to was 9 cals per minute and it was not for an extended period....that's really heavy breathing!

Thanks for sharing this. I can see how it would make you more aware of what you do, how much you move, etc. And seeing the calories burned--the deficit--has got to be motivating. It sounds like a good tool.

[RussianBlue]

So, are you saying that your deficit is too high?

[longing2blean]

I am not sure what the deal is. That's why I am working with Erik. I am pretty clueless about it all. I have been the same weight for 4 years. Recently I have made good progress in dropping body fat and inches, so I think the deficit is working just not with scale results.....sooner or later the scale will drop too!

[sarahlou]

I am resurrecting this thread as I got hold of a BodyBugg and tried it out. Frankly, I was intrigued by you guys posts. I used it for a couple days and was pretty shocked at the number of calories it said I burn. I burned on average for a 24-h period 2539, 2679, and 2973 calories on the third day. I used my polar HRM during my workouts and BodyBugg showed I burned 631 calories while my Polar showed 670 calories (cardio and weight training) one day. I also compared steps walked one day (Omron pedometer) and Bodybugg showed 15884 steps vs. 14871 steps for the pedometer. Comparison seemed reasonable for the workout and the walking so I am intrigued as to whether the calories burned could actually be meaningful. Curious what others think - especially those of you who own one. Also I wondered if anyone had used/tried an Actitrainer - that product seems to enjoy at least widespread support from the academic/medical community. Erik any thought?

(Note: I don't think I am going to buy a BodyBugg only because I appear to be allergic to the metal electrodes)

[lissaheiser]

I love the bodybugg. With it I'm consistently losing about 5 lbs every two weeks. This is my 6th week. They say that sometimes people underestimate the food they are putting into the system and then they cannot figure out why they are not losing. I am weighing and measuring almost everything. I think it's pretty accurate. I like that I can set it to lose how ever much weight a week, 1 lb, 2 lb or 3+ lbs and it tells you the calories to take in and the amount you have to burn. I also like that my trainer can go into the program and see what I'm doing everyday. Makes me really accountable.

[Jen]

One of my clients swears by the Bodybugg. She had tried many diets, WW, Jenny Craig, Atkins, etc but with no exercise. She now plugs all of her meals in online and then compares to what she is burning on a daily basis. She exercises with me 3 days per week and does cardio programs I gave her 3 other days. She is also seeing the benefit of just being more active throughout the day. Her first month she lost 13lbs. :thumb: